The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: suziequeue on January 01, 2014, 11:52:47 am

Title: Building a pond jetty
Post by: suziequeue on January 01, 2014, 11:52:47 am

We are slowly planning our ideas for 2014 and one of the things we want to do is to build a small jetty out to the overflow pipe on our pond. The idea would be to drain the pond in - say - November, build the jetty (and pull some overzealous reeds etc out) and then let it refill in time for frog spawning in April.


I am assuming that we will need to sink some stantions into the base of the pond to create a foundation for the sides and planks.


What do we use for the stantions. OH says treated wood but won't that leach "stuff" into the pond water? but untreated wood will just rot. I was looking at recycled plastic fence posts (http://www.kedel.co.uk/recycled-plastic-lumber-mixed-plastic/recycled-mixed-plastic-round-post-with-point-70mm-diameter.html) which are inert, rot-free and pretty indestructible - if a little expensive….. but we wouldn't need many


Any suggestions/ideas?

Title: Re: Building a pond jetty
Post by: bloomer on January 01, 2014, 12:23:31 pm

whats the bottom of the pond mud or a liner?


you dont need to drain it have helped do this a couple of times best time to build is in the summer when you dont mind getting wet :-)


either green oak posts (expensive) or scaffold bars (cheap) to form the structure then put a pretty decked walkway on top (if oak posts build them in to the design as they look cool if scaffold make sure they cant be seen either option works


let us know about whether its lined and i can give you more info if necessary...

Title: Re: Building a pond jetty
Post by: suziequeue on January 01, 2014, 12:50:59 pm

The pond isn't lined.

We are on heavy clay soil so we just dug a big hole, sorted the inflow and drainage and then just let it fill up.

Title: Re: Building a pond jetty
Post by: spandit on January 01, 2014, 12:53:05 pm

As far as I remember, alder is very good for planting underwater, as it doesn't rot when submerged

Title: Re: Building a pond jetty
Post by: bloomer on January 01, 2014, 12:55:13 pm

as its not lined scaff bars just driven into the pond bed are strong and secure but they do need to be driven in 2-3ft each.

Title: Re: Building a pond jetty
Post by: Stereo on January 02, 2014, 05:58:17 pm

Oak is the best bet. Alder is good when fully submerged as it will never rot but anything above the water line will rot quickly.

Title: Re: Building a pond jetty
Post by: suziequeue on January 02, 2014, 06:29:09 pm

Right - Oak it is then.


We have a big oak place near us. I might be able to get some offcuts or small pieces as the jetty won't be that big.


Thanks